Search and warning light



NW? L 194% .J. D. KENNELLY Zfififi SEARCH AND WARNING LIGHT Filed March 50, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1949 J. D. KENNELLY 2,486,853

SEARCH AND WARNING LIGHT Filed March 30 1MB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 with Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UN IT E D S ENT QF'F l- CE SEARCH AND WARNING LIGHT JeremiahDaiKennelly, Oak Park, Ill.

Application Maid- 30, 1948, SerialNO. 17",914

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signal light-apparatus and is particularly useful in connection with a vehicle with which it is desired to-employ both search light mechanism-and warning light mechanism. The invention maybe employed locomotives, trains, airplanes, vessels, emergency vehicles and other vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus which may be effectively employed as a search light or as a warning light, simple mechanism being provided for changing the structure from one use to the other. "A still further object is to provide light projecting equipment 'in'which by a few changes, moving warning beams may be projected or stationary illumination beams may be projected. "A still further objectis to equip a light projecting device with a plurality of lenses which may be selectively opened for producing different lighting effects. 'Yet another object is to provide light projecting apparatus provided with means for oscillating a warning light and a switch means for-maintaining the light in a stationary position, separable lenses; at least one of which is colored, being provided for changing the lighting effects. Other specific objects and advantages will'appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, "a detail sectional view, the section being taken as "indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side view'in elevation, a portion of the apparatus being shown in vertical section; and Fig. 4, a detail sectional'view, the section being taken as indicatedat line 4 of Fig. 3.

In the illustration given, I6 designates a casing which is closed at its rear and opened at its forward end.

Supported within the casing. for both' stationary use and for movement is a reflector II equipped with a socket I2 to which light current is supplied by an electrical conduit I3. Mounted in the socket member I2 is a light bulb I4.

Anysuitable means for movement in the casing It may be provided. In thespecific illustration given, I provide-inwardly extending studs I5 on the top and bottom of the casing I and upon the studs I is rotatably mounted a ring I6. On

one side, the ring I6 is provided with a rearwardly extending actuating arm II.

The reflector II is provided with a ring frame I8 equipped at its opposite sides with rearwardly extending arms I9 equipped with pivot pins 20 '2 engaging the ring I 6. By-thisstructure, therefiector I I may be oscillated separatelywhile the ring I6 is being moved.

"Any suitable means may be provided forseparately oscillating the frame ring- Iii-and the'reflector ring I8. In the illustrationgiven; a'm'otor 2I is=supported in the casinganddrives through reducing gears contained within' housing'22 a pair of shafts 23 and-24. *Eccentricallymounted upon-shaft- 23 is an arm 25 which is pivotally connected to the actuating arm IT'as shown best in Fig.3. Similarly, a second arm 21 ispivotailly connected to anarm' 26*fixed to the-reflector ring I8 and extending rearwardly' therefrom,as shown best in Fig.8. Thepivotal connections maybe made by any suitable means but in the illustration given, I provide thewpivot pins with balls which are received within sleeves carried by the arms 25 and 21. "If desired, the arms'25 arid 21 may be formed of sleeve members "connected byscrews.

The'means for oscillating the ring I6 and reflector II are set out. merely as illustrationsof anymeans for moving the reflector, or the light source, or both.

It will be understood that the reflector or the lightbulb may be moved in a variety of i'di'fferent ways and by different typesof mechanism and the purpose of the foregoingdescriptionis.merely to set out one means of movement.

I prefer to equip the mechanism .withaswitch member 28 which provides accurate.control of the reflector moving mechanism so that the refiector can, when desired, be stopped at a central position in which it efiectively serves as a stationary sear'ch light or in .a set angularposition in which it again serves as acv search lightfor illuminating a-selected portion .of the track or roadway. or. a portionof the terrain. to the right or left of such' track. or roadway etc.

In carrying out the present invention, I. prefer to. equip thecasing I0 at its forward end with a plurality of lenses, one of which is. preferably colored. It will be understood, however, that the lensesm'ay be of any desired type or .kindand may be I equipped with prisms 'or beclear, maybe colored. red as a warning lightor. any-other desired color. In the specific illustration given, the casing I0 is equipped with a bracket member 29 upon which are mounted two lens frame members. The lens frame 30 is supported by pivot pin 3I upon the bracket member 29. The forward lens frame 32 is equipped with extension arms 33 mounted upon an extension 30a of the lens frame 30. The pivot pin 34 is preferably equipped with a hexagonal cam 35 about which is tightly secured a spring loop member 36. The free ends of the member 36 are secured to member 36a, which pivots about pin 3| on bracket member 29, by welding or by any other suitable means.

The lens supporting frame 30 is provided with a lens 31, the edge of the lens 'being preferably secured within a resilient ring 38, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Similarly, I provide a resilient ring 39 for supporting within the lens frame 32 an outer lens 40. By way of example, the outer lens 40 may be colored red and the inner lens 37 may be clear. Each of the frames 30 and 32 may, if desired, be provided with resilient sealing members 4| of rubber or other suitable material.

Any suitable means for locking the frames 32 and 36 may be employed. In the specific illustration given in Figs. 1 and 3, I equip the frame 32 with a laterally slotted plate 42 and the frame 30 with a similar plate 43. Each of these plates has a lateral slot 44 opening outwardly and adapted to receive locking bolts. Fixed to the frame 3|] are the spaced lugs 45 through which extends a pin 46 upon which is pivotally mounted a screw member 41. The screw member which may swing laterally through the slot 44 of the member 43 which is fixed to frame 30, is adapted to threadedly engage a socket member 43 having arms connected by a pin 49 to a second screw 50. The second screw 50 is also adapted to swing through the slot 44 of the member 42 fixed to the frame 32 and its upper threaded end is adapted to be clamped by a wing nut 51. It will be understood that any suitable means for looking the frame members 32 and 36 to each other and to the casing may be provided.

Operation In the operation of the structure, if it is desired to operate the light as a search light, the multiple switch 28 is manipulated to bring the reflector II in the desired position within the casing I 0 so as to project light beams along a stationary path forward of the vehicle. The nut may then be unscrewed and the screw 50 swung outwardly to release the locking lug 42. The outer frame 32 is thus released and may be swung outwardly to one side of the lens frame 30. In the latter position, the loop spring 36, by engagement with the hexagonal cam 35, holds the lens frame 32 in such lateral position. The light now serves as a search light and the light rays passing through the clear lens 31 illuminates the path ahead.

If it is desired to enter the .casing for repair, cleaning, etc., the threaded member 48, which also serves as a nut, may be unscrewed to release the screw 41 and this may be swung laterally to release the locking plate 43, The inner lens frame 30 may then be swung to clear the front end of the casing, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to employ the light as a warning light, the lens frames are swung to closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the nuts 49 and 5| are rotated to clamp the locking members in operative position. S'witch mechanism may then be turned to start the motor 2| for oscillating the ring member l6 and the lens frame member I 8. Oscillation of these two members simultaneously is designed to give a figure 8 pattern that is highly effective as a warning signal. The light rays projected by the moving reflector or light source pass through the colored outer lens 40 and thus give a warning effect.

The apparatus may be employed in a variety of ways. Various switch arrangements may be employed controlling the mechanism and permitting the interchangeable use of the apparatus for search light or illumination light purposes and for warning purposes.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth one specific structure for the purpose of illustrating a single embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the details of such structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In signal light apparatus, a casing having an open end, a plurality of lenses hingedly supported upon the casing, one of said lenses being colored, a light source movably mounted in sai d casing, means for moving said light source within said casing to provide a changing pattern of light, and means for locking said lenses in closed and open positions.

2. In signal light apparatus, a casing having an open end, a bracket secured to the open end portion of said casing, a lens frame mounted upon said bracket and equipped with an exten sion arm, and a second lens frame pivotally mounted upon said extension arm, lenses carried by said frame members, one of said lenses being colored, a polygonal nut carried by the outer lens frame, and a flat spring fixed to said bracket and looped about said polygonal nut to adjustably hold said outer frame in its adjusted outer posi-- tions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein control means are provided for the light-moving means operable to move said light source to a selected stationary position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said casing is provided with a light source mounted for movement and means for moving the same to form a predetermined moving pattern of light.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said casing is provided with a light source mounted for movement, means for moving said light source to form a predetermined moving pattern of light, and control means for the lastmentioned vmeans operable to move said light source to a selected stationary position.

JEREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,667,469 Carter Apr. 24, 1928 2,409,046 Kennelly II Oct. 8, 1946 2,446,333 Kennelly I Aug. 3, 1948 

